Is it necessary to test every pregnant woman with each pregnancy?
Yes. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, American Academy of Pediatrics, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and American Academy of Family Practice highly recommend that all pregnant women be routinely tested for HBsAg during an early prenatal visit, in each pregnancy. Assuming a woman is not high-risk because she was negative for HBsAg with a prior pregnancy puts the infant at risk. She may have contracted the virus since the last testing. See Florida Administrative Code 64D-3.019.
